The traditional hobby of trainspotting is under threat because of fears over terrorist attacks.

In America, railway stations now regard the monitoring of trains as suspicious behaviour, fearing the information could used by enemies of the state.

Now British spotters fear our stations could soon become just as unwelcoming.

A flood of complaints have been sent to the nation?s rail magazines listing instances of harassment.

At one station a trainspotter was yelled at over a public address system and another had his camera knocked out of his hand.

At Coventry station, regular trainspotters are furious at the suggestion they may be outlawed.

Brian Rowe, 68, from Spon End, Coventry, has been a trainspotter for more than 50 years.

The retired Alvis worker, who started his hobby at the age of 16, travels up and down the country spotting trains five days a week.

Last week he travelled to Cardiff and Bristol and this week he hopes to see trains from Crewe and Chester.

He said: ?It?s not just spotting but a general interest of where they run and when they run, to recognise them and know who built them. I like the travelling aspect.

?The ultimate aim is to see them all, but with new ones coming out and others being scrapped, you can never expect to see that.

?I think banning us is over the top. There are some spotters who you see crossing the lines but they are just a few giving the rest of us a bad name.

?And to say we could be terrorists is ridiculous. I mean, do I look like a terrorist??

Jeff Jesson, 51, from West Bromwich is another train-spotter regularly seen on the platforms at Coventry railway station.

Mr Jesson, who has been a train enthusiast since he was 11, said: ?It?s just stupid. The people they should ban are the those who cause trouble and the people who scrounge for money - not us.?

Coventry station?s customer service team leader Liaqat Thakur, sees about a dozen spotters taking down engine numbers on the platforms of Coventry station each week.

He said: ?I?ve been working in stations for 25 years and have seen them here from day one.

?You do get some problems, mainly trying to keep them behind the yellow line. Last week I had to call out the police because one of them was on the track taking a picture of a train. He said he wanted to have the first photo - some of them can just get a bit overexcited.

?But I wouldn?t want to see them banned. At the end of the day it?s a hobby and most of them don?t cause us any problem.?